Improvement in presses



y UNITED STATES PATENT Ormea..

THOMAS B. NEBSTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y. ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND. THOMAS GANNON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN PRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,046, dated July 25, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS B. \VEBS1ER, ofthe city, county, and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Ratchet- Lever Press; and I do hereby d clare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, 4forming part of this specification, in which` l Figure l represents a plan or top view of this invention, partly in section. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section ofthe same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a press in which the follower is actuated by two sets of lever-pawls and eccentrics, in combination with the ratchet y wheels and chains, (or, instead of the chains,

parted to the follower, and the most powerful pressure can be effected. The driving-eccentrics are placed at right angles to each other, so that if one ofthe pawls draws back to take a new tooth the other pushes, and the motion of the follower is made as steady and continuous as possible. Said eccentrics are, however, arrangedin such aposition that the leverpawls on one end of the press take hold at different times from those on the opposite end, and the follower travels up alternately,f1rston one end and then on the other, whereby the operation of the press is greatly facilitated andV a much more powerful pressure on the material in the press can be effected than in ordinary presses where both ends ot' the follower move simultaneousl y. The chain-wheels are so constructed and arranged in relation to the ratchetwheels and to a hand-wheel on each end of the press that by turning the hand-wheels in one direction the chain-wheels are tightened and rendered rigid with the ratchet-wheels 5 and, furthermore, the follower can be moved upI by hand until the material in the press is compressed to such a state that more than handpower is requisite to complete the pressing, and when the pressing operation is completed and the bale tied the follower' can be released by simply turning the hand-wheels, whereby the chainwheels are rendered loose and allowed to turn back independent of the other mechanism. The follower is thus iliade to descend instantaneously by its own gravity, and no time is lost in working the press back.

A represents a box, which is covered by a movable top, B. This top is held down by straps a, which are hinged to the end pieces of thebox,and which, when turned up, catch over the ends of the longitudinal top bar, b. Said top is hung on gudgeons o, and a hand-lever, d, extending from the top bar, b, serves to turn the same open after the straps a have been thrown ott lrom the ends ofthe top bar, b. The upper parts, O, ofthe sides of the box A are made to fold down, sothat free access can be had lo the interior of the box, and when closed the ends ot' their top bars, c, pass between fcrked braeketsf, and are. held there by pins g or other suitable mechanism. These side wings are hung on gudgeons h, which have their bearings in plates l), that are secured to the ends of the box A, and which form the supports or bars ot' the straps a, the gudgeons c, and the forked brackets f, so that all the Working` parts of the box are rigidly connected to them.

In the, lower part of the box A moves the follower F, which is supported by alongitudinal beam,E, the ends of which extend through slots t' in the ends ofthe box and form the bearings for pulleys j j', two on either end. Bound these pulleys winds a chain, k, one end of which is secured to an eyebolt, l, that projects from the end of the box. From this eyebolt the chain passes down under the pulleyj, thence up over a pulley, m, and down again under the pulleyj, and thence up over the chain-wheel n, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. This chain-wheel revolves loosely on the hub o of a ratchet-wheel, 1', which has its bearings on a stationary axle,p, asshown in Fig. 3. Said hub passes through the chain-wheel a, anda second ratchet-Wheel, r', is fitted on it by means of a featherAkey, s, which compels the saine to revolve with the hub o, but allows it to move thereon in a longitudinal direction. By forcing the ratchet-wheel r toward the ratchet-wheel r the chain-wheel 72 is firmly clamped between them and rendered rigid with the same, so that by turning either of the ratchet-wheels a rotary motion is imparted to the chain-wheel. The two ratchet-wheels are compressed by the action of a hand-wheel, H, which screws'on the outer end of the axlep, and the hub ot' which bears on the outer end ofthe hub of the ratchet-wheel r', whereas the inner end of said axle is provided with a head which bears against the inner end of the hub of the ratchet-wheel r, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. When the hand-wheel is drawn up tight the whole system of wheels turns together, and they can be turned by hand or by power. When the hand-wheel is unserewed the chain-wheel is released and allowed to turn independentof the ratchet-wheels, and in this case the follower descends by its own gravity.

Power is applied to the ratchet-wheels r r Y by means of lever-pawls t t', the levers L Ll of which are strapped round the hubs of the ratchet-wheels r r', and connect by pivots u u with arms M M, extending from straps fitted round eccentiic disks N N mounted on the driving-sh aft P. The eccentric disks N N are set at right angles to each other, so that they cause the Iever-pawls to take alternate action on theratchet-wheels r r', and that while one pawl moves back to take a fresh hold the other moves forward and turns the system of whe ls, causing the follower to rise.

It will be noticed, by referring to Figs. land 3, that either end of the press is provided with the same system of ratchet and chain wheels, lever-pawls, and eccentrics, so that both ends of the follower are moved up by turning the driving-shaft- P; butit must he remarked that the eccentrics on oneend ofthe shaft are placed at right angles to those on the otherend--that is to say, it' the lines drawn throngh the centers and highest parts of one pair of eccentrics coincide with the direction ofthe cranks shown in Fig. 2, the corresponding line ot' the other set of eecentrics will be at right angles with said cranks, or vice versa. By this arrangement the lever-pawls on both ends of the press take action at dierent periods, and the follower moves up alternately on one side and then on the other, whereby the strain on the press is considerably reduced, and a much greater pressure can be effected than with an ordinary press, where both ends of the follower are brought up simultaneously.

It will be readily understoodthat by suitable gearing the power of this press can be increased to any desired extent, and, if desired, the chains and chain-wheels can be replaced by racks and pinions, or even worms and wormwheels might be applied.

The principal advantages of this press are that in its mechanism the friction is reduced to a minimum, the power is applied alternately to the ends of the follower, and consequently to the best possible advantage, and the follower can be worked back without loss ot' time. The whole press is light and simplein its construction, and all its parts are so constructed that they are not liable to get out ot' order.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The arrangement of the eccentrics N N on the driving-shaft P, in combination with the lever-pawls t t', ratchet-wheels r r', and with the chain-wheels and chains or their equivalents, constructed and opcratin g substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Placing the two sets of eccentrics N N at the opposite ends of the shaft P at right angles to each other, substantially as described,

so as to impart to the follower an alternate THOS. B. WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

WM. DEAN OVEREL, M.v M. LIVINGSTON. 

